Buckle



Paa/%%w P. W. WHITE April 1, 1941.

BUCKLE Filed Nov. 16, 1939 Patented Apr. 1, 1941 BUCKLE Paul W. White, Waterbury, Oonn., assignor to Parva Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,686

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a buckle and has special reference to a buckle adapted to be adjustably associated with straps, bands and the like,-

for the support of garments or other objectson the person.

More particularly, this invention relates to a buckle comprising a pair of pivotally engaged frames one of which is provided with spaced side bars connected by spaced end and intermediate ing arms which yield mainly in torsion. The intermediate resilient cross bar is very flexible in a direction toward and away from the upper cooperating cross bar so that it may be flexed open readily for threading or closed just as readily for locking. The normal locking operation being augmented by the pivotal movement of the other frame having a strap-engaging face which cooperates with the intermediate resilient cross bar.

cross bars to define spaced slots for receiving a In the other embodiment the strap is readily strap threaded therethrough, the other of the threaded through the slots of the frame and the frames being pivotally engaged to one cross bar intermediate cross bar thereof has a portion of the first mentioned frame and detachably enraised out of the normal plane of the frame in gaged to another cross bar thereof to present a the direction of the other frame, the extending strap-engaging face therebetween co-operating 5 portion of the cross bar co-operating with the with the intermediate cross bar of the other strap-engaging face of the pivotally engaged frame to clamp the strap in adjusted positions frame to clamp the strap in an adjusted position therebetween. therebetween to augment the normal resistance It is contemplated by the present invention to to the'movement of the strap through the slots adopt this construction for use with various types due to the tortuous path in which the strap is of objects particularly on the person. However, threaded therethrough. in the drawing the buckle has been shown as In' both embodiments of this invention the being adapted particularly for use in connection buckle is preferably formed of a comparatively with a shoulder strap of an overall, the strap thin'spring material into which has been imbeing threaded through the upper slot of one parted high physical properties by thermal heat frame and passing downwardly through the other treatment after all forming operations involved slot with the free end pointing downwardly. The have been completed. In one embodiment, howother frame pivotally associated with the slotted ever, the intermediate cross bar is flexible for frame clampingly engages the strap in an admovement to present a strap opening for the justed position. Either frame may be provided easy threading thereof, while in the other the with a button retaining loop for supporting a intermediate cross bar is rigid and is permitted a garment. It is readily apparent, of course, that normally and relatively wide strap opening for various other uses could be mentioned in coneasy threading. The side bars and outer cross nection with buckles and fasteners generally of bars in both instances are preferably embossed in the type adapted to be adjustably associated with the -slotted frame. straps and that this invention, therefore, is not One of the objects of this invention is to proto be limited to the specific use illustrated. vide a buckle of the character indicated above in In a buckle of the above noted type it is highly which it is comparatively easy to thread a strap, desirable to provide for the. utmost simplicity in in which it is'easy to adjust the strap after it is the threading of the strap through the buckle,tc 40 threaded therein and while on a wearer, in which provide an ease in the adjustment of the strap a loose end of the strap points downwardly when through the buckle when in use on the wearer in use on the wearer, and which is of minimum and to provide that the free end of the strap weight to be less expensive in packing, freight. points downwardly. In the present invention the storage, and from the standpoint of material used arrangement and nature of the two slots in one in the making of the buckle. of the frames and the pivotal relation thereof Another object'of this invention is to provide withthe other of the frames co -operate to accoma buckle ofthe type above noted in which the plish the above desired results. Further, this conpivotally engaged frames are formed each of a struction and arrangement of the elements of 0 single sheet of material, one of the frames hav- 0 the buckle are such as to minimize the weight and expense from the standpoint of material used.

In one embodiment of the invention the resiliently connected intermediate bar permits easy threading and a very positive grip on the strap by reason of the long effective length of the support ing spaced slots for receiving a strap threaded therethrough and the other of the frames having a strap-engaging face to co-operate with a cross bar extending between the slots to clamp the strap in adjusted positions therebetween.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and, for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a buckle embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a reduced sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a modified buckle construction embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a reduced sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive thereof, one form of buckle embodying the features of this invention comprises a frame Ill having a frame II pivotally engaged therewith. The frame In is preferably crowned along the outer confines and is provided with spaced side bars I2 and I3 connected by three spaced cross bars I4, I5 and IS. The buckle is formed preferably of a single piece of thin sheet metal with the intermediate cross bar l5 being resiliently connected to the side bars 4 l2 and I3 and being formed from the material within the confines of the frame.

The intermediate cross bar [5 has a tongue or gripping portion I! that subtends in close proximity a major portion of the length of the top or end cross bar I4 to form an upper slot through which a strap I8 may be threaded and gripped. The tongue I! and the cross bar I 4 may preferably overlap each other for at least a portion of their subtending areas as by means of extruding a portion of the material of the cross bar I I in any desirable manner although it is to be understood that this is only done when and if desired. Such an overlapping relation limits the movement of the resiliently secured cross bar I5 in one direction, that is, toward the cross bar M.

The tongue I! is preferably provided with arms I9 and extending in an opposite direction therefrom to secure resiliently a central cross bar I5 to the side bars I2 and I3. The arms I9 and 20 are spaced from the lower cross bar I6 to provide a slot through which the free end of the strap I8 is threaded to extend downwardly therefrom. The bar I6 is offset to provide a recess 2!, the offset portion of the bar providing a slot substantially the width of an average strap to prevent the free end of the strap from creeping upwardly and out of the slot during normal use of the buckle on the wearer.

The frame II is provided with bearings 22 and 23 preferably formed integrally therewith in which the cross bar I4 is journalled to provide pivots on which the frame II is moved into and out of co-operative relation with the frame II. The other end of the frame II is detachably engaged with the frame In by means of spring catches M which engage beneath the cross bar IS.

The frame H is provided with a loop portion 25 opening into an enlarged recess 26 of sufficient size to accommodate the head of a button, the loop receiving the shank of the button and preventing disengagement therefrom except by tilting of the head of the button through the enlarged recess 26, The recess 2I preferably lies in registration with the enlarged recess 26 and permits the entry of the head of the button therethrough in order that the shank of the button may rest in the loop 25. The recess 2| in the bar I6 of frame I0, therefore, acts to permit movement of the head of the button into and out of engagement with the loop and also has the further function of restricting the opening of the slot to substantially the thickness of the strap.

In threading the buckle just described the free end of the strap I8 is inserted in the slot made by moving the tongue I'l outwardly, the frame I I being pivoted out of its overlying relation with the frame In, and the strap is thereafter passed through the slot between the arms I9 and 20 and the cross bar I6 to depend therefrom. The resiliency of the intermediate cross bar I5 normally tends to urge the bar to an initial position adjacent the cross bar I4 thus clamping the strap therebetween. The frame II is thereafter pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the spring fingers 24 detachably engage the cross bar I6. The strap-engaging face of the frame I I clamps the strap I8 against the outside face of the tongue I1 and also augments the normal tendency of the tongue I! to return to an initial position adjacent the bar I4 to clampingly engage the strap therebetween. The strap l8 besides being threaded in a tortuous path through the spaced slots of the frame It] is clamped between the tongue I! and the cross bar I4 and also between the strap-engaging face of the frame II and the tongue I'l.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawing, the construction shown therein as embodying the features of this invention comprises a frame 27 having a frame 28 pivotally engaged therewith. The frame 21 comprises spaced side bars 29 and 30 connected by spaced cross bars 3|, 32, 33 and 34 to define spaced slots for receiving a strap threaded therethrough. The frame is formed of a single piece of sheet material and the cross bars and side bars are preferably embossed for purposes of strength.

The lower cross bar 34 is provided with a loop portion 35 opening into the slot between the spaced cross bars 33 and 34 and the cross bar 33 has an intermediate portion facing the loop deformed in a direction away therefrom to provide a recess 36. The slot and recess 36 are of sufficient size to permit the head of a button to pass therethrough, the shank of the button entering the loop for detachable engagement therewith. The bar 32 is provided with a portion 31 extending out of the plane of the frame thereof in the direction of the other frame 28 to form the strapengaging portion of the cross bar. a

The frame 28 is preferably formed of a single sheet of metal and has a bearing 33 in which the cross bar 3| is journalled to provide the pivotal movement of the frame 28 with respect to the frame 21. Spring fingers 39 are formed on the side of the frame 21 opposite to that of the pivotally mounted side for detachably engaging the bar 33 of the frame 21. Intermediate the width of the frame 28 a strap-engaging face is formed for co-operation with the extension 31 to clamp a strap in adjusted positions therebetween.

In the threading of the buckle just described, the free end of the strap 40 is passed through the slot between the cross bars 3| and 32, the frame 28 being pivoted out of its normal overlying relation with the frame 21, the free end of the strap being passed over the cross bar 32 and through the slot between the cross bars 32 and 33 to depend therefrom. Aside from the resistance normally afforded by the tortuous path of the strap, it is clamped in adjusted positions between the frames by the strap-engaging face of the frame 28 in co-operation with the extending portion 3'! of the bar 32.

While but two embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A buckle comprising a pair of pivotally eng-aged frames, one of said frames being formed of a single piece of sheet material comprising sidebars and three spaced cross bars connecting said side bars, the intermediate cross bar being resiliently formed on the side bars and being provided with a gripping portion that subtends in close proximity a major portion of one end cross bar to form a slot through which a strap may be threaded and gripped and to form another seat adjacent the other end cross bar for receiving the free end of the strap, the other of said frames being pivotally engaged to one end cross bar of the first mentioned frame and detachably engaged to the other end cross bar thereof to present a strap-engaging face immediately adjacent to and co-operating with said intermediate cross bar of the other frame to clamp said strap in adjusted positions therebetween.

2. A buckle comprising a pair of pivotally engaged frames, one of said frames being formed of a single piece of sheet material comprising side bars and three spaced cross bars connecting said side bars, the intermediate cross bar being resiliently formed on the side bars and being provided with a gripping portion that subtends in close proximity a major portion of one end cross bar to form a slot through which a strap may be threaded and gripped and to form another seat adjacent the other end cross bar for receiving the free end of the strap, the other of said frames having a loop portion and being pivotally engaged to one end cross bar of the first mentioned frame and detachably engaged to the other end cross bar thereof to present a strap-engaging face immediately adjacent to and co-operating with said intermediate cross bar of the other frame to clamp said strap in adjusted positions therebetween, said loop portion detachably receiving the shank of a button of an article to be supported.

3. A buckle comprising a p-a-ir of pivotally engaged frames, one of said frames being formed of a single piece of sheet material comprising side bars and three spaced cross bars connecting said side bars, the intermediate cross bar being resiliently formed on the side bars and being provided with a gripping portion that subtends in close proximity a major portion of one end cross bar to form a slot through which a strap may be threaded and gripped and to form another seat adjacent the other end cross bar for receiving the free end of the strap, the other of said frames being formed of a single piece of resilient sheet material and being pivotally engaged to one end cross bar of the first mentioned frame and detachably engaged to the other end cross bar thereof to present a strap-engaging face immediately adjacent to and co-operating with said intermediate cross bar of the other frame to clamp said strap in adjusted positions therebetween.

4. A buckle comprising a pair of pivotally engaged frames, one of said frames being formed of a single piece of sheet material comprising side bars and three spaced cross bars connecting said side bars, the intermediate cross bar being resiliently formed on the side bars and being provided with a gripping portion that subtends in close proximity a major portion of one end cross bar to form a slot through which a strap may be threaded and gripped and to form another seat adjacent the other end cross bar for receiving the free end of the strap, the other of said frames having a loop portion and being pivotally engaged to one end cross bar of the first mentioned frame and :detachably engaged to the other end cross bar thereof to present a strap-engaging face co-operating with said intermediate cross bar of the other frame to clamp said strap in ad- 'justed positions therebetween, one end cross bar having a recessed portion directed away from the loop portion to co-operate therewith to receive the head of a button as the shank thereof is received into said loop portion for detachably holding an article to be supported.

PAUL W. WHITE. 

